ISDS Case Map
Korea
The United States and Korea concluded an agreement on April 18, 2008 to fully reopen
South Korea's market to all US beef and beef products irrespective of whether or not the FTA is ratified
South Korea on Friday agreed to open up to U.S. beef imports after Washington pledged to raise safety standards, boosting prospects for a sweeping trade deal ahead of a summit between leaders of the allies later in the day.
The United States is using bilateral trade agreements to arm-twist weaker countries into accepting its food safety standards as a tool to expand the market control of US corporations. South Korea is the latest victim.
President Lee Myung-bak is expected to promise a full opening of the domestic beef market to the United States in exchange for U.S. authorization of South Koreans to tour the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Top trade officials from South Korea and the European Union (EU) plan to meet in Japan next week to discuss how both sides will carry out the ongoing free trade negotiations
Meat and Livestock Australia managing director, David Palmer, has accompanied Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, in Korea to lend support for the commencement of free trade agreement negotiations between Australia and Korea.
U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday announced a plan to submit a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement to the U.S. Congress for ratification, despite opposition from the Democratic Party, which is opposing FTA deals. Attention is now drawn to how the U.S. debate on the proposed Colombia deal will affect the Korea-U.S. FTA.
A U.S. congressional aide expressed distrust of the pending free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, claiming Wednesday it does not eliminate trade barriers, especially on beef and autos.
The Korean government made yet another plea to local assemblymen to pass the much-disputed free trade agreement with the United States before the National Assembly session ends in May, calling the inability to ratify the pact in both countries "very regrettable". But the bill, signed on April 2 one year ago, faces diminishing hopes. Legislators in both countries are dragging their feet amid upcoming elections, rural American voters are demanding the resumption of U.S. beef imports to Korea and the U.S. Congress is struggling with the ratification of other FTAs.
Free trade talks between Canada and South Korea have hit some serious roadblocks and could end in failure, Trade Minister David Emerson said Tuesday.
